Buddhist compassion and respect for life

The Buddhist Philosophy of Life Symposium is being held in Chengdu in Southwest China's Sichuan Province. Monks and scholars from Tibetan Communities shared their views on Buddhist values of life. They called on Buddhists to cherish their lives and oppose the act of self-immolation.

A spiritual journey that lasts a lifetime (A Buddhist prostrating on the road). Tibetan Buddhists have long been known for their love and respect for life. At a symposium dedicated to Tibetan Buddist philosophy, masters and scholars from the Chinese Tibetan community reaffirmed the true value of life and called on young Tibetan Buddhists to stop the act of self-immolation.

Venerable Master Xuecheng, VP, Chinese Buddhist Association, said, "Every life is precious and should be cherished. Self-immolation acts are cruel and inhumane, and go against Buddhist doctrines."

After several Tibetan monks burned themselves to death in recent years, China issued a new regulation aimed at curbing self-immolations. People who in any way incite or help others perform self-immolation will now be tried for homicide. This move has been supported by Buddhist masters.

Lobsangenzen, Councilor, Chinese Buddhist Association, said, "True Buddhists never deprive people of their lives, including their own. Those who instigate and do these acts are immoral and should be punished."

Self-immolations never occurred in Tibetan history until 2009. Many Tibetan scholars believe the extreme act was deliberately introduced to Tibet by foreign countries with political motives. Police reported most of those who undertook self-immolations were young people in their teens or early twenties.